Kampala — UGANDA'S anti-AIDS effort in the next five years will require between US$800 million and US$1 billion, the Director General of Uganda Aids Commission, Kihumuro Apuuli has said.

He was speaking at the closure of the National Strategic Plan joint review at Kabira Country Club in Kampala on Wednesday.

"Prevalence rates are higher among women, urban dwellers, the married and those in central and northern regions," said Dr Kihumuro.

He also unveiled a five-year National Strategic Plan (2007-2012), which among others, aims to reduce early sex and casual sex among young people and to reduce sexually transmitted infections.

The other component of the plan is to increase knowledge on HIV/Aids.

Flanked by a team of consultants, Dr Kihumuro said research findings into the advantages of circumcision in , suppression and use of microbicides for HIV prevention would be available in the next five years.

Dr Rhoda Wanyenze and Dr Moses Kamya said the burden of HIV/Aids is enormous.